I think Dave Clyde already invented the wheel for you...he had a breakdown of his setup on the T-Trak page on Facebook. Unless, of course, he took it down. If so, check Joey Ricard's Trackside Scenery page on YouTube...he took some video of it at Ranson.

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"It's sad that you have to die to see how many people loved you..." - Rodney Bingenheimer

I just bring my NCE Power Cab DCC system in a (cardboard) box to the NTRAK shows I attend. It is nice to have a separate fully-featured DCC system to supplement the main one powering the layout.

All the electronics are pretty much contained in the handheld throttle. Then there is a wall-wart type power supply and a fascia panel. One of these days I'll incorporate the fascia panel into my train carrying box.

But I think you are asking about something to house all the "bits" of the main DCC system which will run the layout at the shows. My club built a custom wooden box to hold the power supply with a circuit breaker and power switch, the Digitrax command station/booster, and fascia panel for the LocoNet. The track output has Power Pole connector (and Y-adapters when needed) to power the layout.

What perfect timing! I'm looking to do the same for my club as they are upgrading the equipment from the 100 series of command stations and boosters to the newer 200 series. I haven't really started yet but have some ideas, including custom cabinetry work (built by me) if the various tool boxes, cases, etc. out there won't work.

It's basically what Ed wants. Single box with a handle and off to the shows we go!

North Texas TTrak has a box exactly like what you're describing. I don't know if they have instructions on the build but they did a great job on it. It has a retractable radio "antennae" and everything. Sergio helped build it I believe. Maybe Vic will chime in here.

North Texas TTrak has a box exactly like what you're describing. I don't know if they have instructions on the build but they did a great job on it. It has a retractable radio "antennae" and everything. Sergio helped build it I believe. Maybe Vic will chime in here.

Great discussion. Been interested in doing something similar for some time.

There was a gent on one of the forums probably close to a decade ago that was working on a killer version of this, including significant battery backup power as I recall. (One of the big problems was spotty power at train show venues wreaking havoc). He was documenting his progress meticulously...as I recall one of the last segments I read was some custom circuit boards that had been procured. Then....poof. I couldn’t find the thread, nothing on Google....it was like the guy walked right into witness protection. I think it might have been during one of my sabbaticals and I somehow completely misplaced his name/handle.....so bizarre. I think it was on Atlas or Trainboard but can’t say for sure....maybe one of you recall? Anyway, I’m sure the newest iterations are even better but I just always wondered what became of that system.

That's the PS all the way on the bottom. I think it'll be affixed with heavy duty velcro. The DCS 200 is above it. I'll probably connect the two with the same stuff.

There's a power strip above. I found a very short (1') power supply cable on eBay. It's on the way. The strip will likely be attached with... you guessed it. More velcro!

Coming out of the DCS 200 will be track power that gets split to the three circuit breakers. Two are OG-ARs and one is a regular OG. I figure I've got em, might as well use them. I figure I'll attach that all to a nice board to hold it all in place. The output from those will pop through the "deck" to three terminal strips. Those strips will then have the appropriate Unitrack connectors attached to them. By making those easily accessible screw terminals I can make it easy to connect it to something different if need be. I might also do another terminal strip that's just "raw" track power as well (straight from the command station without the intermediate circuit breakers). That depends on how it lays out.

On the Loconet side of things I plan on running it out to the UR91 on one corner, the UR92 on the other (again, I have both, might as well use em), and another UP5 in the middle. I also plan on doing some un-powered regular RJ12 jacks (probably in a wall plate) for expansion to other systems (like boosters, whatever...).

I'm also planning on mounting the PR3 on the deck as well with a short section of Unitrack for integrated programming.

I'm planning on making a plywood or MDF "deck" that'll be above all of the exposed components and will be where I can mount all the surface mount components. I plan on building a spot for a PC case fan into this and some vents so I can feed air down into the component section and exhaust it. Control for that is TBD. Might just be always on or I might install an on/off switch.

There's no master "off" switch that'll be easily accessible though, so I'm thinking I might mount one of these (or, you know, something actually appropriate) inline between the booster and the track power, for safety sake.